Driving with epilepsy

Epilepsy is a neurological condition that affects about 600,000 people in the UK – or around one particular in every single 25.

The situation can strike any person at any age and benefits in recurrent and at times unexpected seizures. Which implies it can have severe implications for motorists.

The health-related requirements around driving with epilepsy are extremely detailed and can be complicated, so the DVLA is working with the Epilepsy Society to raise awareness of the guidelines about driving with the situation to support keep the safety of the UK’s roads.

So if you or a person you know suffers from the situation, here is a quick run-down what you need to have to know about driving with epilepsy…

Group 1 drivers (vehicles and motorcycles)

If you have epilepsy and drive a auto or ride a motorcycle, you will typically be granted a 3-year licence supplied you have:

• Not had an epileptic attack in the final 12 months, unless your seizures fall beneath 1 of the concessions listed on web page 23 of the DVLA ‘At a Glance Guide’.


• Complied with the suggestions of your medical professional or consultant regarding remedy and check-ups.

When you have been free of charge of seizures for 5 years you will usually be issued a licence that is valid until your 70^th birthday.

You need to inform the DVLA of a 1st unprovoked epileptic seizure and will have to cease driving for 6 months from the date of the initial seizure. If you are deemed to be at higher risk of suffering a further seizure you’ll have to hang up the vehicle keys for a year.

Group 2 drivers (lorries and buses)

You will only be granted a licence to drive a lorry or bus if you have remained free of seizures for 10 years with no taking any anti-epilepsy medication. The duration of the licence will rely upon your health-related particulars.

Once more, you must inform the DVLA of your very first unprovoked epileptic seizure and then stop driving Group 2 automobiles for 5 years from the date of this seizure. In addition, you will have to be assessed by a neurologist, and the results need to show no indication that that the risk of a additional seizure is higher than 2% a year.

You have to also have taken no anti-epilepsy medication throughout the 5-year period prior to the granting of the licence.

If you are a taxi driver the regulations for Group 2 licences could apply to you, but you must contact your personal neighborhood authority to locate out its position on standards for driving.

Vehicles which need no licence (forklift trucks, farm automobiles and sit-on lawnmowers)

DVLA regulations only apply to automobiles that are driven on public highways and not private land, but if you or a person you employ drives any of these automobiles on private land as portion of a job the Overall health and Security Executive advises requirements for driving are similar to automobile and  LGV (light goods vehicle) requirements, depending upon size and w7

If these vehicles are driven on public highways you’ll need a driving licence and ought to get in touch with the Overall health and Safety Executive on 0845 345 0555.

Electric wheelchairs and mobility scooters

Electric wheelchairs and mobility scooters are not regarded to be ‘vehicles’ so you do not need to have a driving licence to use them on private land or public roads. Nevertheless, if you drive a ‘class 3 invalid carriage’ that can be utilised on the road and has maximum off-road speed of 4mph and on-road speed of 8mph, you must register it with the DVLA.

Don’t worry, though, you won’t be charged road tax for making use of it on the road.

For a lot more detailed details on driving with epilepsy, check out this leaflet or this flow chart from the Epilepsy Society, or make contact with the helpline on 01494 601 400.

And if you’ve any other situation that may possibly have an effect on your driving, verify out my report Are you fit to drive?

Driving with epilepsy